Quality in Careers Standard (QiCS)
Be successful on OFSTED assessments
The Careers Strategy encourages schools and colleges to gain a Quality in Careers Standard award. Careers Education and Guidance is also increasingly part of OFSTED criteria.
I offer consultation to Education providers to guide them through the criteria to ensure they pass.
Information
The Gatsby Benchmarks
The benchmarks are based on decades of good practice across the UK and beyond.
They are quite challenging in many ways, but with the right advice and support you can succeed.
Achieve your "Quality in Careers" Award
Schools are now encouraged to undertake a Quality in Careers Standard (QiCS) assessment and obtain an award as evidence of being competent in delivering careers education.
Ofsted inspection criteria now includes more careers content and details of how students are being prepared for their future.
More information about Quality in Careers here.
Professional development
Relevant CPD in careers education for school staff is now part of the QiCS assessment.
Training activities for staff can be offered depending on your location: careers leaders, subject directors, and other teaching staff, to ensure they are equipped to embed careers in the curriculum.
Tips for Careers Leaders
1. Don't go-it-alone
Seek support from those around you. Don't try to do everything yourself. Delegate certain tasks to those best-placed to complete them.
2. Schedule in some time
The careers leader role is a time-consuming one when done adequately. Let your line manager know if you don't have sufficient time to carry out the role.
3. Involve the Careers & Enterprise Company
Their website offers some useful tips and guidelines for the Gatsby Benchmarks. If you haven't already got one, they should be in the process of allocating an Enterprise Adviser to your school.
4. Don't rush it
Although there is pressure to do things quickly, it is better to take a more planned-approach, especially when designing the Careers Programme. A job well done always requires sufficient time and effort.
5. Get an active careers-governor onboard
This is essential for obtaining the full quality in careers standard awards. But even if you are not currently working towards an assessment, it will help you in your role if they are actively involved.
Careers Resources for Schools
Free Resources
Quality in Careers
Gatsby Benchmarks
Please click here (Outstanding Careers)
More FREE resources here (I Could)
Barclay's Life Skills videos (YouTube)
Linking Careers to the Curriculum (tips)
Careers Lesson Plans
Gatsby Benchmarks
Quality in Careers
Gatsby Benchmarks
Quality Benchmarks to guide you in designing an excellent and effective careers programme. (click on the picture).
Click here for more information on the benchmarks.
Click here for the Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit,.
Quality in Careers
Quality in Careers
Careers & Enterprise Company
The National Standard for Careers Education and Guidance in the UK (see FAQ section).
General tips:
Publish your careers programme on the school's website
Have a "provider access policy" on website
Get an active careers-linked governor
Don't rush the award - give it sufficient time
Careers & Enterprise Company
Careers & Enterprise Company
Careers & Enterprise Company
The CEC are a Government-backed agency set up to support institutions in delivering their Careers and Employability programmes to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks.
Compass Plus Tool
Careers & Enterprise Company
Compass Plus Tool
Compass Plus is a development from the original Compass tool which was designed to help you self-assess where you are at as a School in terms of your progress in meeting the Gatsby benchmarks.
What is Tracker?
Careers & Enterprise Company
Compass Plus Tool
Information on the Tracker Tool. You need to have a CEC account and be using Compass to use the Tracker tool - a platform to record all your careers activities.
What career skills do students need?
What career skills do students need?
What career skills do students need?
What career management skills should students be learning by participating in a planned careers education programme?
Click here to find out more.
Careers Info - various
What career skills do students need?
What career skills do students need?
Target careers offers resources for teachers to help you understand and deliver careers education activities.
Careers Leaders Resources
What career skills do students need?
Careers Leaders Resources
Balancing a Careers Leader's role with all your other responsibilities is a challenging task.
Don't despair, help is at hand.
See "Tips for Careers Leaders" section.